Most of us now know Valletta’s ‘s-Suq tal-Belt’ as a communal place where one can go to enjoy a quick bite from a variety of different stands offering cuisines from all across the world.

But it was not always like this…

For many decades, it was a place where one could go to buy the freshest produce from many different local vendors.

In the photo below, one can see a set of turtle shells hanging on the wall as back then fishermen were allowed to catch and sell such animals. They used the meat to make turtle stew.

Definitely, not a sight that is commonly seen in today’s age!

Strada Stretta via Roberta Peresso

Many Maltese vendors were selling everything you can think of from vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs and live rabbits. Customers were soon welcomed with a variety of different smells that definitely opened up their appetites.

Strada Stretta

Some vendors one might remember include ‘il-Vinc’ (grocer), ‘l-Appostlu’ (grocer), ‘Csquare’ (Italian products), Karlu and Pawlu (deli), ‘Gustu and Kalatu’ (fishmongers), ‘id-Derek and l-Bulanġier’ (meats), ‘Bililli’ (chicken) and ‘Fredu l-Maxku’ (fishmonger) amongst many others.

Strada Stretta

They used to open up at four in the morning and stay there until at least three in the afternoon. Some vendors even used to stay open till eight in the evening.

On Sunday, they used to only open from four in the morning till noon. 

A time gone by!